(AP) — Todd Helton homered to move within three hits of 2,500, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-1 on Monday night.

Juan Nicasio tossed six shutout innings and added an RBI single, and Charlie Blackmon also homered for the Rockies.

Buster Posey singled and reached base for the 49th straight game against Colorado.

The Rockies began a nine-game, 10-day homestand with a strong performance against lefty Barry Zito (4-10), who has struggled away from home this season. His numbers didn't improve in his short outing at Coors Field.

Zito allowed five runs and nine hits and struck out one in four innings in his second start since being put back into the rotation. He is 0-8 with a 9.61 ERA on the road this season.

A'S KNOCK OFF TIGERS TO OPEN ROAD TRIP

(AP) — Coco Crisp and Daric Barton each drove in two runs, and the Oakland Athletics beat Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers 8-6 on Monday night.

Cabrera hit his 43rd homer, bolstering his pursuit of another Triple Crown, but Barton had a tiebreaking RBI single in Oakland's two-run sixth inning. Crisp also had a solo homer during his three-hit performance.

A.J. Griffin (11-9) allowed four runs and seven hits in five-plus innings, but managed to win for the first time since July 29. The right-hander was 0-2 with a 3.47 ERA in his previous four starts.

49ERS TRADE POPULAR HARALSON TO SAINITS

(AP) — A person with knowledge of the trade says the San Francisco 49ers have sent linebacker Parys Haralson to the New Orleans Saints, who are in desperate need at the position as a pair of would-be starters are sidelined with knee injuries.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday night because neither team had announced the trade. It wasn't clear what compensation the 49ers would receive in return.

Haralson departed San Francisco team headquarters Monday night after saying his goodbyes before the team began a late practice, acknowledging that he had been traded while providing no further details other than, "I'm outta here."

Saints outside linebacker Will Smith will be sidelined for the season with a knee injury, a person familiar with the situation said. Victor Butler also is recovering from knee surgery that will sideline him most or all of the season.

The Mercury News first reported the trade was with New Orleans.

ROSTER CUT DOWN DAY; MAEHL STILL WITH EAGLES

(AP) — NFL rosters need to be cut down to a 75-man limit by today so there will be a flurry of decisions made by team general managers. Former Paradise High and Oregon Ducks product Jeffrey Maehl is still on the roster for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is hoping to make the squad for a team in need of receivers. The last of the pre-season games will be completed Thursday, then GM's will have until Saturday to get the rosters down to 53 for the start of the season.

DAY TWO OF THE US OPEN

(AP) — Top-seed and 2011 champ Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) takes the court tonight as part of the Day 2 action at the US Open. He'll be trying to continue his recent success at Flushing Meadow where he's reached the last three finals and been a semifinalist for the past six years.

Roger Federer's schedule was thrown off by a rain out last night, so the five-time champ is now set to open play today. Federer will be appearing in his 56th consecutive Grand Slam event, tying the men's record held by Wayne Ferreira. Federer's seventh-seed is his worst since 2002.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN'-kuh) is also on today's schedule.

Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead, two-run double to start a seven-run fifth and matched his career high for RBIs in a season with 85. Russell Martin and Gaby Sanchez added sacrifice flies and Tabata had a three-run double in his second plate appearance of the inning.

Marco Scutaro had a tying two-run single in the fourth for San Francisco after scoring in the third on Buster Posey's sacrifice fly.

Giants right-hander Matt Cain left in the fourth inning after getting hit on his pitching arm on a line drive by Sanchez. He sustained a contusion on his forearm and X-rays were negative.

X-RAYS NEGATIVE AS CAIN TAKES COMEBACKER OFF PITCHING ARM

(AP) — Right-hander Matt Cain left his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the fourth inning Thursday night after getting hit in the pitching arm on a line drive by Pittsburgh's Gaby Sanchez.

The Giants said he suffered a contusion on right forearm and X-rays were negative.

Athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and manager Bruce Bochy hustled out to check on Cain, who walked off the mound to the dugout on his own moments later Thursday night. He allowed three runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings, struck out three and didn't walk a batter. Guillermo Moscosco relieved with the Giants trailing 3-1.

Cain, who had been on a nice roll since the All-Star break, threw 64 pitches, 40 strikes.

BRAUN ADMITS P.E.D. USE AND LYING TO FANS AND FRIENDS

(AP) — Ryan Braun is admitting taking performance-enhancing drugs during his NL MVP season of 2011.

The suspended Milwaukee slugger says in a statement released by the Brewers that he took a cream and a lozenge containing banned substances while rehabilitating an injury.

Braun says, "It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately."

Braun tested positive for elevated testosterone in October 2011. But his 50-game suspension was overturned when an arbitrator ruled that the urine sample was mishandled.

Braun apologized to the collector of the urine sample, his teammates and Commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg), saying: "I have no one to blame but myself."

49ERS SIGN FORMER SEAHAWK

(AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have added another quarterback to the competition to be Colin Kaepernick's backup, signing nine-year veteran Seneca Wallace to a one-year contract Thursday.

While Colt McCoy had appeared to be the favorite to win the No. 2 job coming into training camp, neither he nor Scott Tolzien have separated themselves. Even rookie B.J. Daniels has been deemed a contender, though clearly Wallace now will get a chance with little time to prepare before the Sept. 8 season opener against Green Bay.

Wallace, who was competing with Luke McCown to back up Drew Brees in New Orleans, had his contract terminated by the Saints on Monday.

San Francisco waived wideout Ricardo Lockette, who worked out with Kaepernick in Atlanta for a stretch this offseason along with departed A.J. Jenkins.

RAIDERS HOPING TO GET A LOOK AT FIRST ROUND PICK HAYDEN

(AP) — D.J. Hayden finally gets the chance to answer the critics who thought the Oakland Raiders made a risky bet when they drafted him 12th overall in April.

Hayden will make his exhibition debut for Oakland on Friday night against the Chicago Bears in his first game action of any kind since a near-fatal practice collision ended his college career last November and raised questions about his future in the NFL.

Hayden has been limited most of training camp after undergoing abdominal surgery in May to heal scarring from the original injury. He was not cleared for any contact until last Friday and has had just one padded practice before taking the field against the Bears.

Hayden last played a game Nov. 3 for Houston against East Carolina. He was injured days later.

(AP) — Jeff Mathis hit an early home run, then lined a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning that bounced off Giants center fielder Andres Torres and sent the Miami Marlins over San Francisco Giants 6-5 Sunday.

It was 5-all in a back-and-forth game when Ed Lucas led off the eighth with a single against Sandy Rosario (3-1). With one out, Mathis hit a liner to left-center and the ball dropped in front of Torres' dive and caromed off him.

Hector Sanchez singled with one out in the ninth before Buster Posey grounded into a game-ending double play.

Hunter Pence and Brandon Crawford homered for the Giants.

A'S POWER PAST CLEVELAND

(AP) — Chris Young and Alberto Callaspo homered in the fifth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 on Sunday.

Jed Lowrie, batting leadoff for only the third time this season, had two hits and scored twice for Oakland. Josh Donaldson drove in three runs as the A's pulled within a half-game of AL West-leading Texas.

Young hit his 11th home run off Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir (7-6) to break a 3-all tie in the fifth. Three pitches later, Callaspo followed with his sixth homer and first since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in late July.

Ryan Raburn homered for Cleveland, which has lost six of its last seven in Oakland.

Dan Otero (2-0) retired five batters for the win in relief of starter Tommy Milone.

Grant Balfour pitched the ninth.

AROD PLUNKED AND THEN HOMERS AS YANKS RALLY PAST BOSOX

(AP) — Ryan Dempster might receive a few thank-you cards from major leaguers this week, players who've been embarrassed by steroid use in baseball.

Dempster plunked Alex Rodriguez with a pitch in the second inning of Boston's 9-6 loss to the New York Yankees, leading to the ejection of manager Joe Girardi. Dempster's first pitch of the at-bat went behind A-Rod's knees, and the next two were inside before the fourth hit the Yankees third baseman. The benches and bullpens emptied following the plunking, but order was quickly restored without further incident.

Rodriguez got the better of Dempster four innings later, hitting his 649th career homer to pull within 11 of tying Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time list. It sparked a four-run rally that allowed the Bombers to turn a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead.

It marked the second time A-Rod has been hit by a pitch since receiving a 211-game suspension for his participation with Biogenesis, a shuttered anti-aging facility that sold performance-enhancing drugs to major leaguers.

Brett Gardner had the game's key hit, a bases-loaded triple that allowed the Yanks to take the rubber match of the series.

The loss cuts the Red Sox's lead in the American League East to one game over Tampa Bay.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting this morning that Pro-Bowl Denver Broncos Linebacker Von Miller will be suspended for his team's first six games. Sources tell Mortensen that the suspension is a result of Miller violating the league's substance abuse policy. Mortensen says Miller is in the process of trying to negotiate the suspension down to four games.

(AP) — Jason Dufner's win at the PGA Championship yesterday made him the third first-time winner at the majors this year. He joins Masters champ Adam Scott and U.S. Open winner Justin Rose as winners of the big four events. Phil Mickelson was the only repeat winner at majors with his come-from-behind win at the British Open.

The first-time winner phenomenon is not unique to this year. Dufner is the 15th champion in the last 19 majors who had never won the big one.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson was in the hunt during the final round. An early eagle pulled him to within a shot of the lead, but that's as close as he got. Still Stenson finished third, giving him two runner-up finishes and a third in his last three events -- the British Open, the Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship.

Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick, who homered five times in the first two games of the series, was moved up to fifth in the order but failed to connect again. He went 1 for 3 with two walks.

Facing left-hander Darren Oliver (3-3) with runners at first and second and two outs in the eighth, Callaspo hit a drive to deep left. Emilio Bonifacio almost made a leaping catch at the wall, but the ball ticked off the side of his glove. A second run scored without a play at the plate when shortstop Jose Reyes dropped Bonifacio's relay throw. The Athletics wrap up their series against the Jays with the series finale this morning with the first pitch at 9:37am

ORIOLES POUND GIANTS; NOW 15 GAMES BACK IN LAST PLACE

(AP) — J.J. Hardy hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, Adam Jones added a three-run shot in the ninth and the Baltimore Orioles pounded the San Francisco Giants 10-2 on Sunday.

Hardy's 21st home run of the season gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead. Four players drove in a run in the eighth, Jones hit his 24th homer and every player in Baltimore's starting lineup finished with at least one hit.

Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence each hit RBI doubles off Bud Norris in the first for San Francisco's only runs.

Matt Cain (7-8) retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced. He struck out five and walked one in seven innings, allowing only an RBI single by Nate McLouth in the sixth before Hardy's homer.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ FACES A 211 GAME SUSPENSION FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL; HE WILL APPEAL

(AP) — It was a busy day even by Alex Rodriguez's standards.

The New York Yankees third baseman was activated from the disabled list, met the media before Monday's game against the White Sox in Chicago, made his season debut and produced a bloop single in his first at-bat. He also was suspended for the remainder of this season and all of 2014, although he'll be able to play until his appeal is heard.

Rodriguez and 12 other players have been given lengthy suspensions by Major League Baseball after an in-depth probe into the closed Biogenesis anti-aging clinic. All but Rodriguez have accepted their suspensions, but he opted to appeal his suspension and remain on the active roster.

A-Rod received the harshest suspension.

Commissioner Bud Selig says Rodriguez had used testosterone as well as human growth hormones. Selig also stated Rodriguez engaged in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner in its investigation.

Rodriguez held a news conference before taking the field for the Yankees' game against the White Sox in Chicago. He wouldn't deny using PEDs, saying during the news conference that "when the time is right, there will be an opportunity to do all of that. I don't think that time is right now."

Rodriguez is expected to file an appeal by Wednesday. It will be at least a week before the appeal is heard, and several more weeks before an arbitrator renders his decision. If the 211-game penalty is upheld, his lost pay could range from $30.6 million to $32.7 million, depending on when exactly the suspension is served.

Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta (JAH'-nee peh-RAHL'-tah) and Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera are among 13 players to receive 50-game suspensions on Monday for their connection with Biogenesis of America. All three were All-Stars this season, with Cruz leading Texas in homers and RBIs, and Peralta serving as Detroit's second-best hitter behind Miguel Cabrera.

MLB also cleared Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez and Orioles third baseman Danny Valencia, saying its inquiry found no violations by the players linked to Biogensis in media reports. Gonzalez says he has no lingering sense of animosity toward baseball .

GIANTS KNOCK OFF BREWERS 4-2

CHAD GAUDIN SHINES AGAIN AS THE GIANTS TAKE GAME ONE OF A FOUR-GAME SERIES

(AP) — Pinch hitter Jeff Francoeur's broken-bat single in the bottom of the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run in the San Francisco Giants' 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Brandon Belt had three hits for the Giants, who won for the fourth time in six games. Hunter Pence walked three times and stole two bases.

Santiago Casilla (5-2) pitched the eighth for the win, while John Axford (4-5) took the loss. Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 31 chances.

Juan Francisco hit a home run and drove in two for the Brewers, who have lost four of five. Jean Segura and Jonathan Lucroy each had two hits.

Giants starter Chad Gaudin gave up a run on four hits over 6 1-3 innings. He walked four and struck out eight.

Brewers starter Tyler Thornburg went six innings, allowing an unearned run on seven hits.

Hayden suffered a slight hamstring pull in training camp on Monday but Oakland coach Dennis Allen said the decision to hold the rookie cornerback out was related to Hayden's recovery from offseason abdominal surgery.

The 12th overall pick in this year's draft, Hayden has practiced every day but has been wearing a red jersey normally reserved for quarterbacks and kickers because he has not been cleared for contact yet.

Hayden underwent surgery in late May to remove scar tissue from his abdominal region. That operation came months after a near-fatal practice injury that ended his college career at Houston early.

REID PREPARES FOR CHALLENGES OF THE NFL

(AP) — Every time Donte Whitner looks at rookie Eric Reid he's reminded of what it was like to be a safety selected in the first round competing for a starting spot.

Whitner, San Francisco's savvy strong safety, had quite the Week 1 opponent after being taken eighth overall by the Buffalo Bills back in 2006: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Reid, the former LSU standout for whom the 49ers traded up to draft at No. 18, is hoping to start against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the regular-season opener Sept. 8.

And when San Francisco hosts Denver in his first preseason game Thursday night, Reid might even get a few snaps against another former NFL MVP: Peyton Manning.

CHICO'S AARON RODGERS LOSES HIS BEST PASS PROTECTOR TO TORN ACL

BRIAN BULAGA (75) COULD BE LOST FOR THE SEASON

The Green Bay Packers are looking for answers after losing their best offensive lineman to a torn ACL on Monday. Brian Bulaga protects Aaron Rodgers' blind-side and was injured during a practice session. Its a devastating loss for the Packers whose offensive line is not considered a strength. Rodgers came to rely on Bulaga's ability to keep pass-rushers away from his blind-side. The Packers will now have to piece their line together as they get ready for the season opener in a month. Practice was canceled once Bulaga went down.